Khaleda, Tarique, Fakhrul, Mamunul, Babunagari sued over anti-sculpture remarks

A defamation case has been filed against six people, including former prime minister and BNP chairperson Khaleda Zia and her son Tarique Rahman, for allegedly aiding in making anti-sculpture remarks.

AB Siddiqui, president of a pro-Awami league organization named Jananetri Parishad, filed the case under Section 500, 501, 427, and 109 of the Penal Code with the court of Dhaka Metropolitan Magistrate Satyabrata Sikder on Wednesday. 

The court accepted the plaintiff's statement and said it would issue the order on Thursday.

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The other accused in the case are Mirza Fakhrul Islam Alamgir, general secretary of BNP; Junaid Ahmed Babungari, acting chief of Hefazat-e-Islam; Mamunul Haque, joint secretary general of Hefazat-e-Islam; and Faizul Karim, senior nayeb-e-ameer of Islami Andolan Bangladesh.

According to the case file, On November 13, Mamunul Haque said: “There will be no sculptures in Bangladesh and we will not allow constructing a sculpture of the Father of the Nation.”

On November 27, Junaid Babungari said: "If the country follows the Medina Charter, then there will be no sculpture in the country." He also threatened to create a situation like the Shapla Chattar again.

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Faizul Haque said in a speech: "If any sculpture is constructed in Bangladesh, it will be smashed and thrown into the Buriganga. If necessary, we will gather at Shapla Chattar again.”

The case file also stated that earlier, Khaleda Zia had said at a Hefazat-e-Islam rally at Shapla Chattar that Sheikh Hasina will be brought down within 6am in the morning.

Earlier on Monday, two complaints were filed with a Dhaka court, alleging sedition for speaking against the sculptures of Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman against Babunagari, Mamunul, and Faizul.

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President of Muktijoddha Mancha Aminul Islam Bulbul and Executive President and founder of Bangabandhu Foundation Advocate Moshiur Malek filed the cases with the same court.

Following which, Metropolitan Magistrate Satyabrata Sikder directed the Police Bureau of Investigation (PBI) to probe the issue, and submit a report before it within January 7, 2021.